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"This meeting
will bring together software developers from both the
public/academic sector as well as the private sector
who deal with tools to visualize spatial data (geovisualization),
carry out exploratory spatial data analysis (ESDA) and
facilitate spatial modeling (spatial regression modeling,
spatial econometrics, geostatistics), with a special
focus on the potential for social science applications."

One of the CSISS programs is devoted to "Spatial
Analytic Tools" for the social sciences, that is,
the development and dissemination of a powerful and
easy to use suite of software for spatial data analysis,
the advancement of methods of statistical analysis to
account for spatial effects, and the integration of
these developments with GIS capabilities. For a more
detailed description of the programs and objectives
of CSISS, visit our homepage at http://www.csiss.org/.

In order to take stock of the state of the art, assess
current impediments and identify promising strategies,
a two-day "Specialist Meeting on Spatial Data Analysis
Software Tools" will be convened in Santa Barbara,
CA, May 10th and 11th, 2002. The meeting is organized
by a steering committee, co-chaired by Luc Anselin (University
of Illinois, CSISS) and Sergio Rey (San Diego State
University) and consisting of Richard Berk (UCLA), Ayse
Can (Fannie Mae Foundation), Di Cook (Iowa State University),
Mark Gahegan (Pennsylvania State University), and Geoffrey
Jacquez (BioMedware).

The meeting will bring together software developers
from both the public/academic sector as well as the
private sector who deal with tools to visualize spatial
data (geovisualization), carry out exploratory spatial
data analysis (ESDA) and facilitate spatial modeling
(spatial regression modeling, spatial econometrics,
geostatistics), with a special focus on the potential
for social science applications. These tools include
a range of different approaches, such as macros and
scripts for commercial statistical packages or GISes,
modules developed in open source statistical and mathematical
toolkits, and free standing software programs. The focus
of the meeting is on software "tools" rather
than on the methods per se.

The objectives of the meeting are threefold:

It is an opportunity to demonstrate, showcase, and
benchmark state-of-the-art tools and to interact with
other specialized developers.

It will facilitate and promote a dialogue among
the wide range of developers about priorities and
guidelines for software design, data and model standards,
inter-operability, and open environments. It is hoped
that this will initiate a discussion of specific open
source standards for spatial data analysis.

The meeting will also serve as a way to introduce
CSISS' open source software development initiative,
the "OpenSpace" project, and serve as a
forum to obtain feedback and comments.

compare and review software tools for spatial data
analysis in social science applications

demonstrate the application of new spatial analysis
software tools to social science research questions.

All participants are expected to submit an abstract
as well as a final paper. The papers will be published
on a CD-Rom as a Proceedings Volume, available at the
time of the meeting. The meeting will not consist of
these paper presentations, but instead the Proceedings
are to provide a common background for discussions related
to the broader themes.

People interested in attending the meeting should
submit a digital abstract for their contribution by
e-mail to anselin@uiuc.edu
by February 15, 2002. The steering committee will
make a decision on the final list of participants by
March 1, 2002. The abstract should be two to four pages
(including figures, tables and references), in Adobe
Acrobat pdf format (10pt Times Roman smallest font).
The final paper (for the Proceedings Volume) should
be 10 to 15 pages Adobe pdf and will be due by April
15, 2002.

Some funding assistance may be available, subject to
NSF rules and prior agreement from CSISS. Please indicate
if you require funding to participate.